Typewriting machine



Oct. 22, 1929.

F. ABEL 1,732,738

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 22, 1929. F. ABEL 1,732,738

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1928 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fatented Get. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES FLORA. ABEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Application filed June 6, 1928. Serial No. 283,302.

This invention relates to typewriting machines, having to do particularly with means to facilitate the handling of envelopes in addressing the same.

The device of the present invention takes the form of an attachment capable of ready application to standard typewriting machines as an adjunct to the carriage thereof and which, in normal position overlies the carriage and the platen so as to be capable of feeding envelopes thereto one at a time. The attachment is also provided with a rack or table to receive and stack the envelopes after the addressing operation and when delivered from the platen. The attachment is equipped with a storage compartment or receptacle capable of holding a quantity of envelopes in such position as to be fed one at a time to the typewriting machine and in such manner as to preclude the possibility of more than one envelope being delivered to the platen at a time and also constructed so as to preclude the possibility of amming of the envelopes.

The attachment may be readily swung to inoperative position when it is desired to use the typewriting machine for other purposes,

and may be readily detached from the machine when desired.

The invention consists generally in the arran 'ement of a tiltable frame associated with t is carriage, having a storage compartment at one side and a delivery table at the other, with means governed by rotative movement of the platen for causing the envelopes one at a time to pass properly around the platen to such position as to be impressed by the type bars, and guide means for delivering addressed envelopes from the platen to the delivery table.

The present illustration discloses the invention as associated with a conventional form of typewriting machine, but it will become apparent as the description proceeds that minor changes in the details of construction and operation of parts may be resorted to to adapt the attachment to the several different forms of typewriting machines without departing from the invention as defined by the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view illustrating my improved envelope addressing attachment,

Fig. 2 is an end view of the attachment illustrating the same as associated with certain parts of a conventional form of typewriting mechanism,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4; is a similar sectional View taken upon line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The illustration herein disclosed shows in a fragmentary or general way only such parts of a typewriting machine as are necessary to a proper disclosure of the invention, wherein the body or frame is represented at 5 with upstanding arms 6 near the rear thereof with which parts of the typewriter carriage are associated. A platen is indicated at 7 and travels with the carriage (not shown) and is capable of rotative movement, as will be readily understood, to feed paper or envelopes through the machine and in proper position to receive impressions from the type bars.

The device of my invention includes a frame represented generally at 8 which includes end plates 9 spaced apart a distance suflicient to accommodate paper or envelopes of suliicient breadth or length to feed to the machine with which the device is associated; this distance being approximately the length of the platen or roll. The frame rides or travels upon a bearing bar or rod 10 at its rear end, and this bar is held rigid upon posts 11 bolted or in any other manner secured upon the upstanding arms 6 of the typewriting machine frame. The attachment frame 8 carries near its rear end a pair of depending arms 12 to the lower ends of which are rotatively secured rollers 13 bearing upon the rod 10, and each roller is provided with a stirrup 14 passing beneath the bar or rod 10 to hold the carriage against detachment from the rod yet permits the carriage to swing over or away from the typewriter carriage with the said rod as a pivot.

The attachment frame includes a rearwardly projecting base member 15 from which the arms 12 depend and the said base member constitutes the bottom of the receptacle to receive the blank envelopes. This receptacle also includes an upstanding front plate 16 which is arranged substantially tangential to the platen 7 of the typewriting machine. A follower plate 17 is arranged rear- Wardly of the front plate 16 and is movable toward or away from the latter. Means are provided for yieldably forcing the follower toward the front plate, so that envelopes arranged in a pack between the plates 16--17 will be tightly held and forced toward the said front plate. The frame includes a rotatable bar or rod 18 disposed preferably beneath the base member and directly above the rod or bar 10, and springs 19 associated with the rod 18 tend to rotate the same. The rod 18 has secured at its ends follower arms 20, which engage with the extremities of a bracket 21 secured to the rear face of the follower plate 17. The bracket 21 has posts 22 passing loosely therethrough near its ends, which posts constitute guides for the said bracket, and the posts are secured rigidly to the extremities of the attachment frame. The construction is such that the springs 19 tend to rotate the bar 18 in such direction as to cause the arms 20 to bear against and force the bracket 21 toward the front plate 16, whereupon the follower plate 17 is moved toward the said front plate. The follower plate may be readily retracted for filling the receptacle by engaging the finger grip by hand and moving the same rearwardly against the tension of the springs 19.

The rear extremities of the posts 22 are connected by a bar or rod 24, upon which are slidably mounted locks 25 having fingers 26 constituting gauge rods. Adjusting screws 27 are threaded into the blocks 25 so that upon tightening the same the blocks will be held rigidly in position upon the rod 24. It will be understood that these blocks are to be adjusted to the lengths of envelopes to be carried by the attachment frame for addressing purposes, and the free ends of the said gage rods extend through slots 29 in the ends of the front plate 16.

The feed mechanism for delivering envelopes one at a time from the magazine or receptacle to the typewriter platen 7 includes a pair of spaced rolls 30 mounted in advance of the front plate 16 and carried by a shaft 31 disposed longitudinally of the frame and rotatably mounted at its ends in the end plates 9 of the frame. The front plate 16 is provided with openings 32 through which portions of the feed rolls project so as to contact with the surface of the envelope lying immediately in the rear of plate 16. A jack shaft 33 is rotatably mounted at its ends in the end plates 9 of the frame below and parallel with the shaft 31, and inter-meshing gears 34 and 35 on shafts 33 and 31 respectively afford means for transmitting rotative movement from one of said shafts to the other. A feeder shaft 36 rotatably mounted at its ends in the end plates 9 parallel to and below the jack shaft has a gear 37 secured thereto and in mesh with gear 33. This shaft also carries a pair of feeder wheels or rolls 38 of such size that the periphery thereof is disposed immediately adjacent to the plane of the rear face of the front plate 16 and at the lower end of the latter. A power shaft 39 also rotatably mounted at its ends in the plates 9 of the plane constitutes a part of the power mechanism, and the said shaft 39 carries power rolls 4:0 frictionally engaged with the feeder wheels 38 of shaft 35. The shaft 39 is so arranged that when the attachment frame is in operative position its power rolls 40 will be directly above and in frietional engagement with the platen 7 of the typewriting machine.

From the construction so far, it is apparent that rotative movement of the platen 7 will cause the power rolls 40 to rotate,whiehmovement is transi'nitted to the feeder wheels 38 causing shaft 36 to rotate, whereupon the gear train 34.-3537 will cause shaft 31 to rotate. As shaft 31 rotates, the feed roll 30 carried thereby will force the envelope lying immediately in the rear of front plate 16 downwardly in the space 41 between the front plate 16 and the forward edge of the base member 15. Immediately below the said opening are arranged spring pr ssed rollers 42 which yieldably engage the periphery of the feeder wheels 38, and the envelope will pass between the said rollers. and will be forced downwardly by the wheels 38 into the channel lying immediately in the rear of the platen 7 of the t-ypewriting machine.

The feed roller 30 as well as the feeder wheels 38, are provided with a roughened surface so as to insure proper gripping of the said wheels and rolls with the envelope or paper, thus insuring positive movement of the latter. The feed roll 30 is preferably of substantially rectangular form and cross section with rounded corners as shown to insure proper tight engagement with envelopes lying immediately behind front plate 16 in the feeding action.

A deflecting plate 43 is secured at one end loosely around shaft 39 and similarly at its opposite end around jack shaft 33, and the forward portion of this plate, disposed substantially intermediate the ends of the attachment frame, is concave as indicated at 4-11, having its upper extremity 45 overlying the inner end of delivery table 46. The delivery table comprises a flat plate disposed horizontally or nearly so at the forward end of the attachment frame and is secured at its extremity to the end plates 9. Immediately beneath the inner end-of the delivery table are depending guide barsl7 havingtheirlowor portions disposed adjacent to the platen 7, so that envelopes or paper held upon said platen would have its advancing edge di rected upwardly toward the deflecting plate 43. The concave portion of this plate is such as to cause envelopes traveling upon the same to be directed in flat position upon the delivery table to.

The forward edges of the feeder wheels 38 are disposed slightly in advance of the concave face a l of the deflecting plate. Spring arms 49 secured to the delivery table at) and having feed rollers at their free ends are arranged so that they lie adjacent to and in alinement with the feeder wheels 38. These feed rollers will be engaged by envelopes pass ing from the platen on to the concave face all of the deflecting plate, and will then be engaged by the feed rollers 50. These rollers force the envelope into contact with the feeder wheels 38, so that the latter will operate to propel the envelopes properly across the concave surface at of the deflecting plate so as to insure flat delivery thereof upon the table 46. It will be observed that the deflecting plate 43 is interposed between the feeder wheels 38, so that both of the latter come in contact with the enevlope and mutually contribute to the delivery of the later.

In operation, the attachment is applied to a standard typcwriting machine in the manner set forth, and is swung over the carriage thereof into the position shown in the drawings, whereupon the power rollers 40 rest upon the platen 7. The magazine or receptacle is then filled with envelopes by retracting the follower 17 the envelopes being placed in proper position upon the base member or platform 15 with their flap ends down. Release of the follower plate causes the shaft 18 to move the same forwardly and compress the several envelopes yieldably within the magazine. The platen of the typewriting machine is then rotated in the usual manner, and this rotation causes rotative movement to be applied to power rollers l0, feeder wheels 38 and through the gear train 5-37 to the feed roll shaft 31. The feed rolls 3O rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fi g. 3, whereupon the envelope lying next adjacent and in contact therewith will be forced downwardly through the deli ery space 41 and into contact with the feeder wheels 38. The latter, rotating in similar direction, engage the envelope and force the same downwardly into the channel of the typewriting machine immediately in the rear of the platen. The envelope, as will then be understood, is taken by the feed mechanism of the typewriting machine (not shown) and moved around the platen. When properly positioned upon the latter, the rotative action of the platen is stopped, and the addressing operation may be carried out. With an envelope properly positioned upon the platen for addressing, the next succeeding envelope will have been moved downward. into or through the delivery space 41 and between the feeder wheels 88 and the rolls 42 ready for introduction to the platen upon further rotative movement of the latter. Upon completion of the addressing operation the platen is turned in the usual way to eject the envelope whereupon it is directed onto the deflecting plate and into contact with the feeder wheels 88. The latter force the envelope across the concave surface 44 of the deflecting plate, to insure proper delivery of the addressed envelope to the table 46.

It is apparent from the foregoing that I have provided an attachment for typewriters capable of performing the several ascribed functions, and one wherein positive and proper feeding and delivery operations are assured. The feeder wheels perform the dual purpose of forcing envelopes into and out of the typewriting machine, and assist in proper delivery of the envelopes to the delivery table.

While the foregoing is a description of the invention in its preferred embodiments, it

is apparent that minor changes in the details of construction and assemblage of parts may be resorted to if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1.

1. In a typwriting machine having a revoluble platen, a supply receptacle for worlt sheets at the introductory side of the platenand having a front plate located above and substantially tangential to the platen at the introductory side thereof, said receptacle having a discharge opening at the lower edge of the plate, and the plate provided with feed roll openings, means operatively connected for feeding work sheets successively to the platen upon rotation of the platen, compris ing feed rolls having portions projecting through said feed roll openings to engage and feed a work sheet downwardly past the plate through the discharge opening, and coacting feeder wheels and rolls intermediate the plate and the platen to engage therebetween a work sheet as it is fed downwardly by said feed rolls, to direct the sheet to the platen and power rolls engaging the platen and the last mentioned feed rolls to drive the other rolls upon rotation of the platen.

2. The construction described in claim 1, and including a receiving receptacle at the delivery side of the platen for stacking the typed work sheet, and means operatively connected with the platen for feeding the work sheet from the platen to said receiving receptacle.

3. In a typewriting machine having a revoluble platen and typing instrumentalities, a work sheet supply receptacle at the intro ductory side of the platen, and having a front plate substantially tangential to the platen at the introductory side thereof, and a discharge opening at the lower edge of the plate, said plate provided with feed roll openings, means operatively connected with the platen for feeding Work sheets successively to the platen through said discharge opening, said means including feed rolls of polygonal cross section with rounded corners, portions of said feed rolls extending through said openings to engage a work sheet to feed it downwardly through said discharge opening 4. In a typewriting machine having a revoluble and travelling platen, a support on the frame of the machine, a frame having a receptacle for envelopes located over the platen, and mounted for longitudinal move-- ment on said support to travel with the platen and also mounted for swinging movement on said support to move to a position over or away from said platen to place the frame into or out of use relative to the platen, envelope feed mechanism on said frame, a power roller operatively associated with said feed mechanism, and adapted to operatively engage the platen when the frame is in a position over the platen.

5. The construction described in claim 4, and including a delivery table carried by said frame to receive the envelopes discharged from the platen.

6. In a typewriting machine having a revoluble platen, a frame associated with said machine and overlying the platen, a magazine carried by said frame and having a downwardly disposed discharge opening above the platen and opening downwardly in a direction substantially tangential to the platen at the introductory side thereof, means for feeding a work sheet from the magazine to the platen, including a feeder wheel on said frame to engage the Work sheet as it is fed through said discharge opening, a receiving receptacle to receive and stack work sheets fed from the platen, a deflector plate associated with the feeder wheel, the wheel projecting beyond the face of the plate, to direct a work sheet towards the receiving receptacle, and a feed roll engaging the feeder wheel, the wheel and roll receiving between them a work sheet as directed by the deflector plate to feed the sheet to thereceiving receptacle.

7 The construction described in claim 6, and including means operatively connected with the platen to actuate as the platen is rotated the means for feeding a work sheet.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature.

FLORA ABEL. 

